Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission

The Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) will consider proposals for increasing fees and annual revenue at its regular meeting on October 4, 2007 (noon to 1:00 p.m. in room 805 County Administration Building).

Although various alternatives may be discussed, one proposal calls for an increase in subdivision application fees. The Board of County Commissioners have not increased RPC's subdivision fees since 1998.

Another proposal calls for establishment of a new fee (an hourly rate), to be paid by townships that are not RPC members, for development review services by RPC staff. Currently five of Hamilton County's 12 townships (Colerain, Crosby, Delhi, Miami, and Sycamore) have not signed resolutions of cooperation with RPC, pay no annual membership fee, and therefore are not RPC members. Since RPC fees are voluntary, we have historically provided the same level of service to all townships regardless of ability or willingness to pay annual membership fees. The proposed policy change would focus staff services on jurisdictions that are RPC members.

RPC services to townships will of course continue where mandated by state law. Ohio Revised Code section 519.12 for township zoning, and 303.12 for county zoning, requires that RPC (i.e., the commission itself) recommend the approval, denial or modification of proposed zoning amendments in all townships and requires submittal of its recommendation to the applicable zoning commission. However, the zone amendment review and analysis conducted by RPC staff is not required by state law. Therefore, staff services such as regulatory compliance review, site visits, map production, staff reports, and presentations are proposed to be offered to nonmember townships at an hourly labor rate (approx. $61.00 per hour) and only when staff capacity exists to provide such service. Zoning support services will continue to be provided to member townships at no additional cost.

While we prefer that all townships be members of RPC so that we can provide continuous and consistent professional services related to site plan review and zoning compliance reports, etc., recent and proposed budget reductions will likely require the proposed reduction in service or increase in fees for nonmember townships.

The proposed fees are in response to the county administrator's 2008 budget recommendation for a 15% reduction in county subsidy to RPC. This follows budget cuts in 2007 that resulted in termination of three staff positions—a 17% reduction in staff. With such reductions in funding and staff, RPC is now considering termination of uncompensated staff services to nonmember jurisdictions so that essential services can be provided to members.

If you’d like to comment on these proposed amendments to RPC fees, please attend the public meeting on October 4th or contact me at 946-4453 (email ).

Below are the documents related to the Fee Amendments: